Amok, sometimes spelled amuck and often used as "running amok,"
is a Malay word which in that language means to be out of
control.
The word is often used in English to refer to the behaviour of
someone who, in the grip of strong emotion, obtains a weapon and
begins attacking people indiscriminately, often with multiple
fatalities. This could be used to describe the École Polytechnique
Massacre, for example. The slang term going postal is similar in
intent and more common, particularly in North America. Police
describe such an event as a spree killing.
Amok is one of a number of Malay words borrowed by the English
language. Others are "kris", "agar", "batik", "Orang-utan", "padi"
(paddy), "rambutan", "sagu" (sago) and "sarung" (sarong).
